Jerome Drayton, the renowned Canadian long-distance runner and celebrated 1977 Boston Marathon champion, passed away unexpectedly on Monday in Toronto on February 12, 2025, at 6:07 p.m.
According to reports, he died during knee surgery. Born Peter Buniak on January 10, 1945, in Kolbermoore, Germany, to Ukrainian parents, Drayton immigrated to Canada with his mother in 1956.
In 1969, he officially changed his name to Jerome Peter Drayton, wanting to start a new life, explaining he always liked Jerome.
Drayton’s running career began in high school, where he jokingly said he may have started running to impress a girl.
This initial motivation led to an 18-year athletic career, where he discovered a love for winning and running.
He attended Mimico High School and showed his talent by winning top-caliber events at the Ontario High School level.
Drayton was recruited to the Toronto Olympic Club and began training with national distance running coach Paul Poce.
Major accomplishments defined Jerome Drayton’s career. He won the Boston Marathon in 1977, becoming the first Canadian in 29 years to achieve this feat.
Drayton held the Canadian men’s marathon record for 43 years. He won the prestigious Fukuoka Marathon in Japan thrice (1969, 1975, and 1976).
In 1970, Drayton set a world record in the 10-mile run at 46:37:6. He was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Drayton held 12 national titles and set 13 records across various distances throughout his career.
Before taking on the marathon, Drayton excelled at shorter distances. He ran his first marathon in Detroit, aiming to qualify for the Canadian team for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, meeting the Olympic standard by three seconds.
In 1969, he won the Motor City Marathon in a North American record time. Later that year, he also won the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan, setting another North American record.
In his fifth attempt at the Boston Marathon in 1977, Drayton seized the lead as Bill Rodgers, the eventual four-time winner, began to tire in the 77-degree heat. Drayton’s victory marked Canada’s first win in the race in three decades.
Jerome Drayton, Remembered As One Of Canada’s Greatest Marathon Runners
Boston Athletic Association President Jack Fleming acknowledged Drayton’s impact, stating that,
“Jerome remains the most recent Open Division Men’s champion from Canada and set the stage for generations of world-class Canadian Marathoners to follow in his footsteps. He was a runner who cared not only about his own performance but the growth and development of the sport.
Via Times Union
The feedback and interest he showed in the Boston Marathon undoubtedly helped shape the marathon in the late 70s and beyond.”
Upon hearing the news of Jerome Drayton’s Death, Bill Rodgers, a former rival and friend, shared his admiration for Drayton, saying,
“Very sad news to share from the running world today; just learned of the passing of great Canadian Olympian and Boston Marathon Champion Jerome Drayton. I raced Jerome many times over the years. I admired his honesty and determination.
Via Facebook
I spoke with him just last month on his 80th birthday and we had a great conversation.I will remember him as a friend of the world sport and a great Champion for Canada.”
福岡マラソンで3回優勝したカナダのジェローム・ドレイトン氏が80歳で亡くなりました。1975年の福岡優勝の2:10:09はカナダ記録として40年以上も君臨しました。ご冥福うぃ祈ります🙏 pic.twitter.com/6d7SslqoHz
— Lydiard Training&Academy (@Lydiard_FDN) February 11, 2025
One of Drayton’s Japanese fans fondly remembered him,
“I was always a big fan of his; he won Fukuoka Marathon in 1969 in the rain, beating the history’s second man to run under 2:10, Ron Hill. After that race, a lot of Japanese runners—myself included!—started to run with sunglasses!! He was a hardy “old-school” runner, a loner who trained very hard… Always a big fan of his; Rest in Peace, Champ!!’
Via Facebook
After retiring from competition, Drayton remained active in the athletic community as a consultant with the Sports and Fitness Division of Ontario’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Recreation.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Peter Buniak, aka Jerome Drayton, was the loving son of Sonia Huziuk.
- A service in honor of Jerome Drayton will be held on Friday, Feb. 14, at St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Toronto at 11 a.m.
